France’s former president Nicolas Sarkozy has again been legally sentenced to prison. The Court of Cassation in Paris confirmed the 70-year-old’s sentence to one year in prison on Wednesday. But Sarkozy doesn’t have to go to prison. He was put on probation for six months. Another six months can be converted, for example by wearing an ankle bracelet. The case concerned illegal campaign financing in 2012.
Sarkozy’s lawyers said the conservative had taken note of the decision. They will consider whether to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. The lawyers do not expect a decision on the type of prison sentence to be commuted for several weeks.
Election campaign cost cap exceeded by 20 million
Sarkozy ran for re-election as president in 2012, but ultimately lost. Spending on election campaigns is capped in France; in 2012, the permitted upper limit was 22.5 million euros. The appeal court found last year that Sarkozy’s team had exceeded these cost limits by around 20 million euros. In order to cover up the overspending, expenses are said to have been disguised by his party UMP – now renamed Les Républicains – using a system of fictitious invoices. Sarkozy is not said to have invented the system, but he is said to have ignored important information.
Sarkozy had always rejected the allegations. His lawyer Vincent Desry said: “Nicolas Sarkozy is completely innocent of what he is accused of in this case.” He did not commit any funds and did not know that the cost limit had been exceeded.
Ankle bracelet and imprisonment
For the former president, the decision is another bitter defeat in his bitter battle with the French justice system that has been going on for years. At the beginning of the year he had to wear an ankle bracelet for around three months. The sentence was imposed for bribery and illicit influence – allegations that Sarkozy had always denied.
And because he is said to have sought funds from Libya for his 2007 election campaign, the former star of France’s civil right went to prison a good month ago. The politician, popularly known as “Sarko,” has now been allowed to leave his cell under certain conditions. Sarkozy also denied all allegations in this case. He called his conviction a scandal and appealed.
Sarkozy has been known for scandals before
The once dazzling figure of Sarkozy has fallen deeply with multiple convictions and is still considered an influential voice. The conservative’s term in office in the Élysée Palace from 2007 to 2012 was marked by affairs involving rich friends, self-indulgent members of the government and nepotism. Sarkozy ultimately lost re-election as president in 2012 to the socialist François Hollande. Five years later he failed in the party’s internal selection process for the presidential election.